On a recent project, I was making use of the django-formwizard app and needed to be able to pull out any one of the fields from the series of forms. On the final step of one of the sample apps, it is suggested that you do something like:

to get a combined dictionary of all the form elements. Continue reading

Ever since the open sourcing of Everyblock last year, I’ve been really keen to get an EveryBlock site setup for Ottawa. With the latest project from OpenPlans, OpenBlock (based on the Everyblock code) makes this a lot easier to get rolling. I’ve got a demo site up, and am in the process of parsing CanVec data into something the OpenBlock code can deal with. Tweet me if you’re interested in helping out.

While on vacation in Belgium recently, I came across all sorts of really fantastic public art, and functional “street furniture”.  I’m excited to see what the City of Ottawa will be procuring as part of the Integrated Street Furniture Program. Below you’ll find my roundup of benches in Brussels.

With the recent passing of the Ottawa Cycling Plan, I thought it would be interesting to highlight some of the more innovative cycling-friendly things I’ve seen recently. First up is a bike stand in Berlin that doubles as a bicycle pump:

Designed by Studio HiMom, the Heklucht pump was originally developed for an art project in Ypenburg, a newly built Dutch neighbourhood. With the goal of stimulating neighbourhood interaction, eight of the stainless-steel units—available in multiple colours—were placed in front of eight Ypenburg houses. The Heklucht won a Dutch Design Award back in 2006 in the category of public space products, and has since been installed also in Gent, Vienna and Leeds, Studio HiMom says.
via Springwise

The other cycling-related innovation I saw recently (also on Springwise) was a vending machine for bicycle parts, interactive maps, how-to videos, as well as free air. This one was sponsored by Trek, a bike manufacturer, but could easily be sponsored by Trek and a local bike shop perhaps near a cycling hub somewhere in the city.

“Motorists have it easy,” says Hammond. “Gas stations, convenience stores, auto parts stores, tow trucks—you name it. The support network for cars far outclasses cyclists. The Trek Stop aims to change that by breaking down some of the ‘worries’ attached to cycling.” While the Trek Stop is currently just in prototype form and slated to run for only another month or so, Seattle-based Aaron’s Bicycle Repair has actually had a similar vending machine in place since 2005. With items like inner tubes, flat repair items, energy bars and gel, the machine is located just outside Aaron’s for after-hours service.
via Springwise.

What do you think? I can think of a couple of times when I’ve been out cycling some of the paths in the city when I realized I could do with a little more air in my tires. I think a few well placed public pumps at some of the larger path hubs would be pretty handy.